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A review by mmarlborough
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley! This April Book of the Month and GMA Book Club pick is going to be everywhere this summer for good reason! Atmospheric and full of depth, this is my kind of romance.
Justin is cursed: whoever he dates will marry the next person they’re with. Emma DMs Justin, as she has the same curse. The two strike up a deal: they can date each other to change their fates. She decides to go to Minnesota for the summer and rent a lake house with her best friend (as they are traveling nurses, they can go wherever) to date Justin. But once they are together, they both have to deal with tough family issues that bring them closer together than a typical summer fling.
Jimenez may be my favorite romance author. She writes complicated mental health issues with such depth and compassion! I like my romances to have substance to them and Jimenez always delivers. I loved Emma and Justin together, the Midwest summer setting was on point, and the family backstories were realistic yet complicated. My only issue really is the curse/fake dating trope, which is just not a personal favorite (and seemed very reminiscent of the film “Good Luck Chuck” for me.) This is a great summer read for romance fans, highly recommend!
✨Trigger Warnings: Abandonment, Mental Illness, Child Abuse, Gaslighting
Justin is cursed: whoever he dates will marry the next person they’re with. Emma DMs Justin, as she has the same curse. The two strike up a deal: they can date each other to change their fates. She decides to go to Minnesota for the summer and rent a lake house with her best friend (as they are traveling nurses, they can go wherever) to date Justin. But once they are together, they both have to deal with tough family issues that bring them closer together than a typical summer fling.
Jimenez may be my favorite romance author. She writes complicated mental health issues with such depth and compassion! I like my romances to have substance to them and Jimenez always delivers. I loved Emma and Justin together, the Midwest summer setting was on point, and the family backstories were realistic yet complicated. My only issue really is the curse/fake dating trope, which is just not a personal favorite (and seemed very reminiscent of the film “Good Luck Chuck” for me.) This is a great summer read for romance fans, highly recommend!
✨Trigger Warnings: Abandonment, Mental Illness, Child Abuse, Gaslighting